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Academic panel to appoint fiscal monitor
By Denise Dick
Youngstown
The city schools Academic Distress Commission will appoint a fiscal monitor to oversee district finances until a treasurer is appointed.
The action came at a commission meeting Thursday. The commission met in executive session with the school board regarding the treasurer’s position.
An interim treasurer has been in place since May, and the district has twice narrowed applicants to lists of finalists.
In May, the commission told the district to conduct a national search for a treasurer. At that time the school board had four finalists for the job but started a new search because of the commission’s directive.
After the second search, conducted through a national school-executive search firm, the board whittled the list to three finalists, who were announced in August. They are:
Annette Harmon of Orange Village, Ohio, assistant treasurer, East Cleveland City Schools; MBA, accounting; current salary, $83,000.
Leonard Greg Slemons of Canfield, treasurer/chief financial officer, Orange City Schools in Pepper Pike, Ohio; master’s degree; current salary, $130,000.
Michele Smith of Warren, treasurer, Electronic Classroom of Tomorrow; MBA, current salary, $123,000.
Harmon also had been on the finalist list in May.
William Johnson, the district’s previous treasurer, earned about $84,000 annually. He retired at the end of July but the commission in May had placed him on paid administrative leave.
Adrienne O’Neill, commission chairwoman, said the fiscal monitor will work with the interim treasurer on the commission’s behalf. The amount of compensation, which will be paid by the district, hasn’t been determined, but the monitor is expected to be identified before Oct. 18 commission meeting.
Lock P. Beachum Sr., school board president, said the board would negotiate with finalists to make a selection.
“It will probably take a couple of months,” he said.
The fiscal monitor will work at the commission’s direction and report to the commission.